New Research Shows Toxic Workplaces Are Three Times More Likely to Cause Depression

When Google embarked on an extensive research project to identify the factors behind successful teams, they found something unexpected. The intelligence of team members was much less important than the trust they had in each other. Google termed this crucial quality for high-performing teams “psychological safety,” which simply means teams that support and respect one another perform better. Ultimately, success comes down to kindness.

This concept also relates to mental health. Australian researchers recently found that employees working in environments lacking psychological safety are three times more likely to develop major depression.

Toxic teams damage both success and mental well-being.

The study, conducted by the University of South Australia and published in the British Medical Journal, tracked workers for a year to determine which factors contributed to major depression diagnoses and how workplace conditions influenced mental health. The results were clear: at companies that don’t prioritize psychological safety, the risk of depression jumps by 300%.

So, what does ignoring psychological safety look like in practice? The research team assessed companies’ commitment to mental health using a scale with statements like, “Senior management takes action when an employee’s psychological health is raised” and “Senior management values mental health as much as productivity.” As lead researcher Amy Zadow stated, “Companies that fail to acknowledge employees’ hard work, set unrealistic demands, and limit their autonomy are greatly increasing the risk of depression.”

The (crystal clear) takeaway

Although the concept of psychological safety in this study is not exactly the same as Google’s (which emphasizes risk-taking and fear of failure), the two share similarities. Together, the studies suggest that toxic workplaces—where employees are bullied, belittled, and overworked—hurt both team success and employees’ mental health.

The takeaway is straightforward: if you manage a toxic workplace, change it now. If you’re part of one, consider leaving—especially since employers are scrambling to attract talent. And if you can’t leave permanently, at least take a vacation.

Other research indicates that avoiding vacations also doubles the risk of depression. So, at a minimum, take a break, regroup, and think about how you can either improve your work environment or leave. Staying in such an environment puts you at serious risk of mental health issues.